Thread: Local Couple Arrested In Illegal Immigrant Sting

Police Raid Huron County Dairy Farm {Poll on webpage}

Local Couple Arrested In Illegal Immigrant Sting
Police Raid Huron County Dairy Farm

HURON COUNTY, Mich.-- A Huron County couple has been arrested on charges of harboring illegal immigrants at their dairy farm in Colfax Township.

According to Michigan State Police, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Johannes Martinus VerHaar and his wife, Anthonia Marjanne VerHaar, Wednesday morning at 3201 W. Soper Road, just a few miles west of Bad Axe.

The two are being charged with encouraging and inducing illegal aliens to reside in the United States, harboring illegal aliens and aiding and abetting such acts.

Thirty agents dressed in tactical gear surrounded the farmhouse and arrested the farmer and his wife.

"It was kind of like shock and awe," said Michigan State Police Detective Mark Krebs. "They weren't advised beforehand that we were coming and they were located and handcuffed."

Michigan State Police helped the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Response Team with the arrests.

The farm has been under investigation for more than three years. The couple's lawyer, Matt Allen, declined to comment except to say the allegations will be addressed.

"The only people that were taken from the scene were Johanas VaHaar and Antonia VarHaar," said Krebs. "Other employees were questioned by the ICE agents, but no one was taken away from the farm but those two."

TV5's Liz Gelardi reported this was not the first incident at the farm. Federal agents said they have deported illegal immigrants found working there in the past.


The VerHaars were transported to Bay City where they were arraigned in U.S. District Court, police said.

They were each charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. If convicted, they may face up to five years in prison.

VOTE: Do you think illegal immigrant labor hurts or helps the state economy?

Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the number of illegals removed from the country fell well short of this year's goal of 400,000.

Officials said of the thousands of illegal immigrants deported last year, about 35 percent have criminal records http://www.wnem.com/news/25300072/detail.html

The feds have raided a farm in Huron County and arrested a couple for harboring illegal immigrants -- do you think illegal immigrant labor hurts or helps the state economy?
Choice Votes Percentage of 423 Votes
Helps 71
17%
Hurts 352
83%